Bayern Munich’s last game before the international break saw the Rekordmeister pick up a solid 4-0 victory over Union Berlin, with goals from Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and a brace from Serge Gnabry. Here are some observations from the game.
Bayern knew exactly how to counter the low block
A constant criticism across almost all Bayern teams this decade has been about their inability to effectively play against low blocks. An overreliance on slow build-up play and tenuous attempts at penetrating the box filled with opposition players has often been what saw Bayern teams falter against set-ups designed specifically to prevent it. The solution, instead, as Bayern showed vs. Union Berlin, is far simpler: a direct approach, focused on long-balls and crosses into the box. Kompany’s recognition of the same, equipped with wingers who can both cross and finish clinically (something Bayern has lacked for the better part of the last five years), yields a team that no longer finds low blocks as frustrating.
Bayern’s game plan countered Union’s low block perfectly. Union came into the game with their well-maintained 3-5-2 structure, sitting deep and often refusing to press (especially in the first half), giving Bayern a lot of time on the ball. Yet Bayern didn’t spend time trying to start an attack from the midfield, but rather sent in long balls into the Union box as much as possible, hoping to find a Bayern shirt in the right place to finish. The approach was rather frustrating for stretches of the first half as Bayern missed a fair few chances, but eventually came good as Olise marked the opener off a sublime ball from midfield and Gnabry added a second following a cross from the opposite flank right before half time.
Undeniably, credit goes to Kompany for preparing his squad to stay disciplined and know when and how often to attempt the long balls without running the risk of constantly losing possession. On the occasions that they did lose the ball, the recoveries were almost instant. Bayern’s work rate across 90 minutes was beyond commendable today. This game can be seen as a textbook example of how to approach a low block, and hopefully is a game plan that Bayern will continue to employ.
Noteworthy performances (and some redemption arcs)
Leon Goretzka’s sublime ball to Olise for the opener was precisely the spark of brilliance the team needed to open the floodgates. One could watch that pass forever. It did well to redeem Goretzka’s missed shot on goal earlier and gave him a lot more confidence for the rest of the game.
Serge Gnabry had a great game, leaving with a brace to show for it. His finishing was clinical today and is deserving of much praise. Gnabry came into the game quite shaky, which is unsurprising given that his profile as a player who likes drifting into and shooting from the middle is often shut down by low blocks. Yet he delivered, often dribbling in from wide and proving dangerous to the Union defense. Yet his positioning, movement, and ability to exploit the little space Union offered him helped him stand out beyond doubt today. It is great to see, and Bayern might need this version of Serge as the crucial phase of the season approaches.
Josip Stanišić had arguably his best game this season today, working tirelessly up and down the flank: winning back the ball while influencing the attack. He made it seem effortless and put in a fantastic shift.
Harry Kane wasn’t at his best today, but still delivered another stunning goal in the second half. He missed more often than he tends to, even despite the difficult angles he often found himself shooting from. His clear run on goal that seemed sure to up Bayern’s tally to 5 ended in a miss that is very rare for a striker of his calibre. He will undoubtedly stand to benefit from the rest Thomas Tuchel and the England camp are offering him.
And much can be said about Olise’s brilliance, which has become so common now that this is the level fans have come to expect of him. A highlight of his was the manner in which he controlled Goretzka’s long pass before firing it into the net with such precision for the opener.
Jonas Urbig, too, had another great showing between the sticks. While he had little to do shot-stopping-wise (yet still managed quite a few great saves, most notably the one towards the end of the second half), his sweeper-keeper instincts were a great help in build-up.
Real Madrid awaits…and Bayern have never been more ready
There is no doubt that nerves are high amongst the Bayern faithful as the team gears up to face Real Madrid after the international break, a clash that has tormented this fanbase far too often. But if there is any team that can break the curse, it is Kompany’s men. Bayern are peaking at the right point in the season. Following the break, the returns of Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala will further boost a squad that seems to have overcome all its demons. This game proved beyond doubt that Bayern have what it takes — even without key players. Kompany deserves all the applause he gets for what he has created, and there is no one better than him to carry this into the final stretch. Into the international break!
What did you think of the observations? Do you agree? Disagree? Tell us everything in the comments below!
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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